








GopigteK*_Ri 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 












RING—THE STORY OF A ST. BERNARD 



Ring joined the boys in their game of football , barr¬ 
ing furiously at the excitement of the game. 















RING 

The Story of a St. Bernard 


By 

NENA WILSON 

It 

Drawings by 

DON NELSON 

V 


THOMAS S. ROCKWELL COMPANY 

CHICAGO 

1930 















PZlO 

.U)le r m 


Copyright, 1930, by 

THOMAS S. ROCKWELL COMPANY 

CHICAGO 

First Printing September, 1930 
Second Printing November, 1930 


Printed in United States of America 


JAN 28 193! 

©ci 


A 33387 


CONTENTS 


I Ring Comes Visiting 7 

Ring changes households—the story of the 
St. Bernards—Ring is lonesome. 

II The Next Morning 13 

Ring eats upon request—he likes candy — 
a wal\, a tramp and Ring to the rescue. 

III Family Days 20 

Ring is bathed with dignity—he plays nurse 
—Ring saves a life. 

IV Snow Fun 27 

Ring greets the snow—he learns to pull a 
sled—Ring does not forget an injury. 

V Summer Styles for Ring 33 

A disastrous haircut—Ring obeys his mis¬ 
tress. 

VI The Merry-Go-Round 39 

A happy birthday—Ring learns that the 
Merry-Go-Round is too fast to jump on. 

VII He Forgets His Manners 43 

Ring explores and finds food—the story of a 
box of candy . 

VIII In the Movies 51 

Ring plays the part of a lion—praise takes 
the place of breakfast. 

IX To the Rescue 56 

Ring li\es a boat ride—a capsized canoe 


and another rescue — Ring's home is per¬ 
manent. 


THIS LITTLE BOOK 
is dedicated 
to my three children 
that they may keep 
the memory 
of happy days 
with a loyal companion 
Nena Wilson Badenoch 



Chapter I 


RING COMES VISITING 

S HE said she would bring him this afternoon, 
and it is almost dark,” Nancy peered through 
the wide west window. 

Dick held his position near the corner of the big 
casement, that he might see far down the street. 
“You don’t suppose she has forgotten, do you?” 

Four-year-old Bobby flattened his stubby nose 
against the pane. He strained his eyes to see farther 
than his ten-year-old brother. He raised the family 
question, “Why doesn’t she bring our dog?” 

Already the children in the friendly house felt as 
if the big St. Bernard almost belonged to them. For 
several weeks they had met him daily as he walked 
with his mistress. One day they ventured to tell 
his mistress how wonderful they thought he was. 
They liked the way he stepped along beside her 
carrying high his bushy tail with its white tip. 
That white tip waved like a handkerchief. 

She let them pet him. At first he bore it with a 
patient resignation, rolling his eyes at her as much 
as to say, “Of course, I don’t know these children. 
Do you think it quite proper to speak to strangers?” 


7 


8 


RING 


But they met him every day and gradually he 
learned to look for them. He would wave his 
white handkerchief tail gaily far down the street. 
He liked to have his large, soft, brown ears rubbed, 
while they crooned over him. 

And then came the great day. Nancy said, “I 
wish we had a dog just like him.” Being twelve, 
she knew better than to covet what was another’s. 

Dick’s blue eyes deepened and sparkled as he 
fervently echoed, “O, don’t I!” But Bobby, being 
younger and more direct, said right out, “I wish 
we had Ring,” for that was the St. Bernard’s name. 

The lady who owned him quickly put her hand 
on his head as the smile faded from her lips. 44 You 
would be kind to him?” 

44 Oh, yes,” the three answered in chorus. 

Then she asked them if they had lots of room 
at their house for a big dog; if Father and Mother 
liked dogs; if they knew how to take care of a dog 
and make him happy. 

And, of course, they promptly told her all about 
their family, and their house and what kind of 
food scraps they would probably feed a dog. 

She listened very thoughtfully to their tale of 
how Father had always wanted a good dog. He 
had talked largely about going to a kennel and 
getting a dog who knew its father and mother, 
grandfather and grandmother way back. But 


RING COMES VISITING 


Mother would never let him spend the money 
necessary for pure dog blood. Mother thought 
all they needed was a dog to love, who could be 
depended upon to be kind to the children. 

The mistress of Ring told them that she must 
move far away into a tiny apartment where her 
dog would scarcely fit. He would find it hard to 
be happy, so she was looking for a good home for 
him. She suggested that Father would like him 
because he had good blood in his veins. 

Nancy remembering Mother’s objection asked 
if his kind of blood cost a great deal. She knew 
of course Mother would like him, for one had only 
to look at Ring to know he could be trusted, and 
they loved him already. 

Then the lady said a wonderful thing. She 
offered to let Ring spend a week-end with them. 
If he liked them and was happy, she would talk 
about the price with Mother and Father. 

So it had been arranged and this was the day 
for him to come. 

“Oh, Mother, you will like him,” Nancy turned 
from the window. “He is so beautiful. He is tan 
mostly, with a white nose and a great white ring 
around his neck. That is where he gets his name.” 

“All true St. Bernards are marked that way,” 
said Mother who was busily mending the knee of 
Dick’s knickers. “Legend says that these great dogs 


10 


RING 


arc marked with white around the neck and down 
the front, like the vestments of the St. Bernard 
Monks, their masters.” 

“Tell more about the monks,” said Dick. 

“These Monks lived in a Hospice high in the 
snowy Alps of Switzerland,” continued Mother.” 
“Travelers had to pass there to go over the moun¬ 
tains. Often they would be caught in a sudden 
mountain snow storm and lose their way. Some¬ 
times they became so cold and weary that they sank 
down and gradually were covered with thick fall¬ 
ing snow. You or I passing near by would never 
know they were there. That is why the Monks 
had these big dogs to help find them. Their keen 
sense of smell could locate a man even under the 
snow. One dog, called Barry, saved forty-two lives. 

“The Monks taught these dogs to go out in pairs, 
an old dog and a young one. Over the back of 
each dog was strapped a blanket. Around his neck 
was tied a small flask of wine medicine. 

“After a snow storm the dogs were sent ahead 
on the trail. When they found a man, one would 
dig to uncover him, while the other raced back 
to the Monks for help. The dog who stayed would 
lie close to the man to warm him and lick his face 
to wake him up. Then the man could take the 
medicine from the flask around the dog’s neck. 
That would keep him warm and alive until the 


RING COMES VISITING 


n 


Monks came. In this way they saved many lives/’ 

“Oh, they were noble, weren’t they mother? Do 
you suppose that is why Ring has such kind eyes?” 
Dick smiled understandingly. 

Bobby had no more time for conversation. He 
turned back to the window and peered down the 
street. “Here he comes. Here he comes,” he 
squealed with delight. “Do you hear his bark? 
See him wave his pocket handkerchief?” 

There they were. 

Ring followed his mistress into the house and 
sat very close to her although he seemed glad to 
see the children and smiled at them. 

His mistress made it easy for Mother to enter¬ 
tain her week-end guest by telling her what Ring 
liked to eat; and that he didn’t eat nearly as much 
as you would think a large dog would want; that 
he usually slept at the front door, inside the house, 
of course; and that he was very intelligent and 
would obey commands at once. 

Mother smiled at the children, “Will he obey 
quicker than my children?” she asked. But Nancy, 
Dick and Bobby thought not. 

It was decided that the mistress was to come back 
in three days to see if he had eaten his food and 
seemed happy. She gave his leash to Mother and 
stood up. Ring rose politely and was ready to fol¬ 
low her. He looked up at her adoringly. 




12 


RING 


Suddenly she knelt before him. She took his 
great muzzle in her hand, while she looked straight 
into his eyes. “Ring, old boy,” she said, and her 
voice was husky, “this is to be your family. Love 
them. Take care of them.” 

She couldn’t say any more and stood up quickly 
to keep back the tears. 

Ring sensing her sorrow, sat back on his haunches 
and pleadingly offered her his paw. 

She took it and turned to Mother, trying to smile. 
“He has always been with me. I shall miss him 
as much as he misses me. I don’t know that I can 
bear to sell him and part with him forever.” 

“Lie down Ring, and stay there,” she commanded, 
and walked toward the door. The great dog 
dropped to the floor. He quivered all over with 
his longing to follow her. Entreatingly he looked 
[after her. He edged along on his belly ever so little. 
Bobby slipped to the floor beside him and put his 
head close to that of the great St. Bernard. With 
his chubby hand he stroked the long silky ear which 
hung flat to Ring’s head, “Nice Ring,” he said 
soothingly. 

The door closed. The dog was motionless look¬ 
ing fixedly after his mistress. His great jaw drooped 
and the dignity of his race settled upon him, in 
deepening sadness. 





Chapter II 


THE NEXT MORNING 

T HE next morning all three children were 
dressed in a jiffy for they were eager to see their 
new pet. Down the stairs they dashed. 
There he was, just as they had left him at the 
front door faithful to his watch. Sadly he gazed 
at them with his big, brown eyes, but when they 
called to him he tapped a tune of greeting on the 
floor with his tail. As they came to him he arose. 
“He must have a little morning run,” said Nancy. 
‘Til take him,” offered Dick. 

“Let me go too,” begged Bobby. 

So they all went. And a run it was sure enough. 
Ring’s spirits rose in proportion to the number of 
children. It took all three of them holding back 
on the leash, to check his pace. Bobby’s short legs 
flew so fast to keep up that they seemed scarcely to 
touch the ground, but he refused to let go. 

With gay spirits and rosy cheeks they came back 
for breakfast. Mother declared Ring was a good 
tonic for morning appetites. But the children didn’t 
want to eat their breakfast until Ring had his. His 
mistress had said that if he were happy he would eat. 


13 


*4 


RING 


Mother gave them a special pan for him and 
Nancy poured his milk. Carefully she placed it in 
a corner of the kitchen and called “Here Ring.” 

Ring watched her get it ready without the slightest 
interest. When she spoke to him, he looked up at 
the Mother and backed away rather apologetically. 

The children began to coax him, but he kept 
backing away, half waving his tail. 

“He doesn’t want his milk this morning,” Bobby 
was excited. “I know what he wants.” He climbed 
to the cupboard where Mother had stored a box 
of dog biscuit. Quick as a flash he took one and 
ran out of doors with it. 

Ring dashed after him, but when Bobby dropped 
the biscuit for him and went back into the house, 
the gay wag of his tail stopped. He looked at the 
biscuit, at the door and his surroundings. With 
dignity he stood before the door and barked. 

Dick hurried to open it for him; gingerly Ring 
lifted the dog biscuit with his teeth. He walked 
slowly into the house with all the airs of an injured 
gentleman, and placed the dog biscuit on the floor 
beside the pan of milk. His manner said plainly, 
“I am no tramp to be fed at the back door.” 

“He will not eat, Mother,” said Nancy. 

But Ring was looking at Mother inquiringly. She 
leaned toward him, “That is your breakfast, old 
boy. You may eat it.” 


THE NEXT MORNING 15 

“Please cat,” the children begged in chorus. 

Without greed, without hurry, but slowly and 
daintily Ring began to eat his breakfast. 

“Isn’t he a wonderful dog, Mother,” exclaimed 
Dick. “Look at his table manners.” 

Just then the Daddy of the family came down 
stairs for his breakfast and the children rushed to 
tell him all about it. 

Nancy concluded, “He is a gentleman. He 
waited to be invited to eat by his hostess.” 

But there was a time when Ring didn’t have to 
be urged. That very noon he was lying in the liv¬ 
ing room at quite a distance from the dining room 
table, but where he could plainly see all that 
happened. 

Lunch was finished. Mother and the children 
had arisen from the table. Daddy wasn’t home, for 
his work took him every day into the big city. 

“You may each have a piece of candy for dessert,” 
said Mother as she walked toward the cupboard. 

At the first rustle of the crackly oil paper which 
covered the candies, Ring appeared in the doorway. 
Immediately he took his position in the line of 
children. With big, brown ears pricked up and 
head cocked on one side he stood expectantly wait¬ 
ing his turn for a piece of the delicious sweet. 

Mother laughed and all the children laughed. 
Ring himself seemed to laugh for he smiled and 


i6 


RING 


wagged his tail widely, but never once did he take 
his expectant gaze from the box of candy. 

“For all your dignity, you are just a child at heart, 
aren’t you?” said Mother as she tossed him a piece. 
He caught it dexterously and seemed to swallow it 
in one gulp. 

“Oh Mother,” Bobby shrilled, “he didn’t even 
taste it.” 

But even so, Ring was eating and everyone was 
happy. “We have made a good start,” rejoiced 
Nancy, “if we give him a nice walk every day he 
will like us. May I take him after school?” 

When Mother said yes, she asked to take him into 
the Forest Preserve, which spread its wooded paths 
only a few hundred feet from the door. 

Mother did not let Nancy walk there alone for 
its leafy trails soon hid her from sight and people 
of all kinds, from gay picnickers to hobos, used its 
open fire places. “With Ring I will be safe. Let 
me take him all by myself,” begged Nancy. 

Looking at the powerful frame of Ring, Mother 
finally agreed, “Hold onto his leash and never let 
him leave your side. Remember his commands: 
‘STAY BACK,’ keeps him right by you, and 
‘HOLD IT’ makes him stand still.” 

When school was over they departed gaily. Ring 
hurried out at the end of the leash, stepping care¬ 
fully passed Nancy as she opened the door. He 


THE NEXT MORNING 


announced to the world with his deep bark, that 
someone very important was coming. 

He pulled Nancy along at a lively pace, but she 
checked him and commanded “Stay Back.” His 
tail drooped. He rolled his eyes and stepped back 
obediently, keeping close to her side. Nancy turned 
and waved a gay farewell to Mother who was watch¬ 
ing from the window. 

It was the Fall of the year. As they skirted the 
bank of the slough, which wandered back from the 
main current of the river, a brightly colored pheas¬ 
ant whirred out of the bushes. It flew to the ground 
and hurried deeper into the woods for cover. 

Ring was surprised and greatly excited. He 
bounded for the big bird, jerking Nancy after him. 
So suddenly and powerfully did he jump that before 
she knew it Nancy found herself alone. 

“Come here,” she wailed. But all she could hear 
was the crashing of the great animal through the 
underbrush of the forest. 

He was gone. 

Maybe he didn’t know her well enough to pay 
attention to her commands. If his mistress were 
only here, he would respond to her loved voice. 

What was it his mistress said about using the 
exact words of the command? She must think 
quickly for already the sound of his chasing was 
growing fainter. Soon he couldn’t hear her. “Hold 



i8 


RING 


It,” she screamed with all her strength. There was 
silence. Had he heard her or had he gone too far? 

What should she do? It was very still She was 
terrified now. It would never do to lose her head. 
Nancy knew she must get him back. Yet there 
was no chance to follow him, for the underbrush 
was too dense. Desperately she cupped her hands 
around her mouth and shouted, “Ring, STAY 
BACK, STAY BACK.” 

Intently she listened. There was a sound in the 
underbrush. In fact there were two sounds. One 
in the direction where Ring had gone, and the 
other a little beyond her. And the one just beyond 
her seemed closer. 

Could Ring have circled around there? Both 
seemed to be drawing nearer. She looked ahead 
in the path and just past the golden maple emerged 
the raggedest man she had ever seen. 

He was coming toward her. 

Now Nancy knew why Mother always insisted 
on coming with her into the enticing depths of the 
woods. If Mother were only here now. But she 
wasn’t, and Ring was her only guardian. 

The tramp was coming nearer, looking about 
cautiously as he approached. 

“Ring,” Nancy called in a voice of entreaty, but 
the sound was so small and choked that she could 
scarcely hear it herself. 


THE NEXT MORNING 


l 9 


“Woof,” said an answering voice and the great 
tan and white face of the St. Bernard poked out 
of the bushes looking very sheepish. 

Just then Ring caught sight of the tramp and 
every hair of his body bristled. A deep throated 
growl warned the man as Ring walked stiffly toward 
him, ready at the slightest forward movement to 
jump upon him. 

The man’s face froze with fear as he saw the 
huge beast come steadily toward him. “Call your 
dog, Miss,” he begged, as he backed toward the 
bushes. “Call your dog. I don’t mean no harm.” 

“Hold it Ring.” Nancy commanded, and the 
great dog stopped in his tracks with his eyes fixed 
on the retreating tramp, who turned and fled. 

When he was out of sight Ring came to Nancy. 
He crouched as he came, wagging his tail half 
in shame, half hopefully. Nancy felt that way her¬ 
self when she had not meant to do wrong. When 
he reached her, back he sat on his haunches and 
up went his paws, asking her forgiveness. 

She petted him. She hugged him. She thanked 
and forgave him. Very close Ring was to her as 
they walked out of the Forest Preserve toward home 
and never after that did he break at the leash when 
they walked out together. 



Chapter III 


FAMILY DAYS 



F OR a week Ring lived at the friendly house. 
His mistress saw that he was happy, but she 
couldn’t bring herself to sell him. 

“Maybe I will be located in a few months so I 
could have him with me,” she said. “Would you 
like to keep him until I decide?” 

Mother protested feebly. “The children will grow 
to love him so that it will be hard to part with him.” 
But Mother believed that even a short love is better 
than none at all. She agreed to keep him as a guest 
for a few months. 

This particular Saturday morning he was to be 
made beautiful for Sunday. More than the daily 
brushing was needed. 

“Ring,” Nancy’s voice penetrated the rooms of 
the house. Everything was very still. Softly she 
laughed to Mother, “Do you suppose he heard me 
mention that I was going to give him a bath?” 
“Ring,” she commanded, “come here this minute.” 

A shuffling sound was heard from the far bed¬ 
room. A paw was inserted in the crack of the door. 
Black nostrils, a white nose, a big brown and tan 








FAMILY DAYS 


21 


head with sheepish loving eyes appeared. Ring 
came slowly toward her slinking a little, but wag¬ 
ging his tail apologetically. 

Nancy was gay. “Come on old boy,” and she 
dashed toward the kitchen. 

Now that was different. Maybe it was food. 
Maybe it was a frolic. On the chance Ring bounded 
after her and followed to the outer door. There 
she turned for the basement, and he knew that he 
was in for it. Nancy clapped her hands and said 
cheerfully, “That’s a good boy,” as she looked up at 
him from the foot of the basement stairs. 

With the air of resignation which marks the 
gentleman who is trapped and knows it, he pro¬ 
ceeded with great dignity to his bath. Everything 
was in readiness. Ring could see it as he came. 
The white towels. The tub full of water. The 
brush. The soap. He was right. It was the bath 
he had heard mentioned. How he hated water! 

Nancy talked to him as she took a soapy cloth to 
wash his face. The white nose she scrubbed, and 
then followed the stripe of white hair between his 
eyes to the big ruff of white fur collar. 

What dog couldn’t be resigned to a bath with 
one he loved telling him what a wonderful fellow 
he was. How beautiful! How proud she was to 
go walking with him! Why he could hear it in 
the very tone of her voice as she scrubbed him. 


22 


RING 


“Now hold still, and let me dip your pocket hand¬ 
kerchief in this soapy water,” she commanded, as 
she lifted his long tail with its white tassel, “then you 
will be sudsed all over, ready for the rain.” 

He was being very good, letting her pour dipper 
after dipperful of water over his great body as he 
stood over the basement drain. 

“Whoopee, now you are through,” she rejoiced 
and he puckered his sides ready to shake but she 
was too quick for him. Hurriedly she threw a big 
turkish towel over him just in time to prevent a re¬ 
turn bath for herself. With some good rubs the bath 
was over, and Ring, the beautiful St. Bernard, dashed 
after her into the sunshine. Barking, shaking, 
crouching, running, he invited a glorious frolic. 

Dick heard the excitement and ran out to join 
it. He clapped his hands as he ran. Ring paused 
and looked at him for a minute. As if the clapping 
were a signal he began turning around, taking a 
few little steps and turning again, for all the world 
as if he were doing an old-fashioned waltz. The 
children shouted with glee and Ring barked. As 
long as they clapped he kept on dancing. 

To see this great animal cavorting about the yard, 
acting so foolish and enjoying himself so much, 
left them breathless from laughter. As they leaned 
against the trees for support Nancy gasped “Ring-i- 
ma-thing-i-ma-thuddle. You are funny.” 


FAMILY DAYS 


2 3 


Ever after that all they needed to start a glorious 
frolic with Ring was to dash out doors calling him 
by his funny name and clapping their hands. 

But usually he was a very sedate member of the 
family who took his share in the care of the house¬ 
hold as if he knew everyone should. He adopted 
Bobby as his special charge. 

It began this way. Bobby, being only four and 
full of life, had his evenings when he didn’t care to 
go to bed. He would much rather stay up to play 
hide-and-go-seek with Daddy. Sometimes he would 
become so excited from his game that he would pull 
back when Mother was ready to take him upstairs. 
Now and then he would try crying and kicking a 
little to see if she would let go. 

One night after Ring had joined the family, 
Bobby objected strenuously to the idea of going to 
bed. His feet flew so fast, and he pulled so hard 
that Mother gathered his round squirming body in 
her arms and started up the stairs. 

Suddenly Ring appeared at their side. “Woof,” 
he announced, loud enough for Bobby to hear. 

“Look,” said Mother to Bobby, “Ring is here.” 

“Where,” said Bobby and unwrinkled his crying 
face at once so that he could see. 

Ring looked up and wagged his tail as if to say, 
“I knew you didn’t mean that crying.” 

When Bobby came out of the bathroom, rosy, 






RING 


clean, and shining for the night, Ring marched be¬ 
fore him. Right into Bobby’s bedroom he walked 
and settled himself in a corner, glancing at Mother 
as much as to say, “Leave him to me.” 

“Look Mother,” Bobby’s voice hit the high notes 
of happiness, “Ring is going to bed with me.” 

When Mother said prayers with Bobby and kissed 
him goodnight, she turned to put out the light. 
Ring lay perfectly still and looked up at her know¬ 
ingly. The lid of one eye flickered, and Mother al¬ 
most laughed aloud. He seemed to say to her, “I’ll 
just get him off to sleep and be down directly.” 

So when Mother went out of the room she didn’t 
latch the door but left it slightly ajar. Somewhat 
later, when the house was quiet, and Dick and 
Nancy, too, had gone to bed, Mother and Daddy 
were reading in the living room. They heard a door 
open and a padded tread coming down the stairs. 

He came into the room waving his tail at Mother, 
but he walked over to Daddy and pushed his nose 
under his arm as he read the paper. That was 
the way he asked for a little attention and petting. 
He rubbed his head against Daddy’s sleeve as if to 
say, “After all, we men know how it goes.” Mother 
laughed, but Daddy put aside his paper and rubbed 
the back of Ring’s ears in just the right spot. Ring 
then settled himself contentedly in his usual place 
at the door and went sound asleep. 


FAMILY DAYS 


25 


Anyone would have thought it was a sound sleep 
for nothing disturbed him as he stretched on his 
side. That is, nothing until he heard the snap of 
the kitchen light. Then up he jumped. His great 
tan and brown head was framed in the kitchen door¬ 
way. Mother and Daddy were having a little lunch. 
As he saw the cookie box lifted from the shelf he 
stood at attention. His big brown ears were lifted 
like two framing brown petals. “Look Daddy,” 
said Mother, “at Ring’s pansy face. Doesn’t it look 
for all the world like one of those tan and brown 
pansies. Surely he is saying ‘remember me.’ ” 

“You beggar,” said Daddy, but he gave Ring the 
biggest half of his cookie. 

But Ring earned his cookie bits and all the at¬ 
tention they gave him. 

One day the boys were playing football in the 
front yard with the neighborhood children. Ring 
joined them barking joyously as they scrimmaged 
and fell over the ball. When Bobby disappeared 
at the bottom of the pile, then Ring’s bark sharp¬ 
ened and he circled the wriggling mass of boys. 

Mother watched from the window where she sat 
sewing, and smiled at Ring’s evident concern. 

Now the play was more open. The boys were 
kicking the ball. Dick had just kicked a ball which 
veered into the street. Bobby dashed for it. 

Bobby just missed the ball. It bounced into a 


26 


RING 


driveway and he ran after it, stumbled and fell on 
it. So intent was he on getting the ball before any¬ 
one else that he didn’t notice the car which was 
backing steadily out of the drive. 

The car was within ten feet of the prostrate Bobby. 
The rear wheel would soon run over him. Ring 
dashed across the street barking wildly. The chil¬ 
dren shouted and Bobby for the first time saw the 
approaching car. Around the car Ring dashed 
saying as plainly as a dog could, “Put on your brakes. 
Wait a minute,” and then he stationed himself be¬ 
tween Bobby and the car, barking hoarsely. 

Mother had left the window for a moment but 
the sharp cries brought her back just in time to see 
Ring take his place between Bobby and the car. 
Bobby scrambled to his feet. The brakes ground 
and held the big car within a foot of Ring. 

Ring turned and took the sleeve of Bobby’s 
sweater gently in his teeth. Then he and a very 
much sobered little boy walked carefully across the 
street after Bobby had looked both ways to see 
that no autos were coming. 

Mother ran into the yard and gathered Bobby and 
Ring in the circle of her arms. 

That night the Daddy of the house spent a long 
time petting the silky ears and head of the big St. 
Bernard, and Mother fixed for him a very special 
dinner. 



Chapter IV 


SNOW FUN 


E ARLY one winter morning something made 
Bobby waken with a start. He opened his 
big blue eyes wide, and listened. There it was 
again. A short, sharp bark. 

Bobby turned his head slightly and looked out 
of the window. Then he gave a squeal of delight 
and kicked free from the covers. “It's snowing. 
Old Mother Goose is picking her geese and saying, 
‘Wooh/ to the feathers.” 

Into his bathrobe and slippers he jumped and 
danced down stairs crying, “Goodee ... goodee ... 
goodee.” There was Ring waiting at the front door 
looking out of the long glass panels, just as excited 
as Bobby. He wagged his tail and stepped from 
foot to foot in eagerness. 

“Do you like the snow, Ring?” asked Bobby. 
“Want to go out?” 

Ring barked a muffled answer. The children 
called it his “whisper.” Bobby unbolted the door. 
Out Ring dashed carrying his tail high and barking 
with L * 


B< 



28 


RING 


the window in the warm living room where he 
could watch Ring’s antics. He remembered that 
Mother had told him St. Bernards came from the 
mountains where the snows were deep and con¬ 
stant. Ring seemed to remember something of this 
sort too, for he greeted the snow like an old friend. 
He rolled in it. He jumped about and frolicked. 
He barked joyously. He even chewed it. 

About that time Mother came down to get break¬ 
fast. She heard Bobby’s gay laugh in the living 
room and peered in, “Bobby Button-Eyes, what woke 
you up so early?” 

“Ring. Mother, look at him play in the snow.” 

Ring saw Mother at the window and demanded 
to come in. When she opened the door he bounded 
into the room shaking the snow from his long hair. 

“He didn’t brush his feet,” Bobby objected, as 
Ring lay down to clean his paws. “What a big 
foot he has, Mother, and what funny black pads on 
the bottom for toes.” 

“The better to walk with on the snow,” answered 
Mother much in the manner of the little Red Riding 
Hood story. “Don’t you remember how Ring’s an¬ 
cestors, his great-great-great-grandparents had to 
walk over miles of snow to find the wearied trav¬ 
elers? Their daily route was to the farthest shelter, 
nine miles from the Hospice. A big foot with broad 
pads was useful to help them go fast over the snow.” 


SNOW FUN 


29 


“Look, Mother,'” Bobby observed closely, “Ring 
has a little claw all by itself on the inside of his foot 
above the black pads.” 

“That is a dew claw,” said Mother, “which St. 
Bernards have. I dare say Ring doesn’t use it much ” 

Bobby looked very wise and shook his head at 
Mother. “Oh, yes, he does. I have seen him scratch 
his ear. This must be his special ear scratcher.” 

Having carefully removed all pads of snow from 
between his toes, Ring was alert to follow Mother 
to the kitchen. Since cold weather had started 
there was something about breakfast which he par¬ 
ticularly liked. Just to think about it made him 
smack his lips with anticipation and lick them with 
his long red tongue. 

Everyone in the family had a bottle of it with 
his own name on it. The doctor had suggested that 
Ring have his own labeled supply too. It would 
make his coat long, thick and silky. It would keep 
him well and frisky, just as it did the children, 
Mother and Daddy, too. 

Codliver Oil. That is what it was. 

The children played a game with the bottles to 
see who could lower the level most consistently. 
There would have been no doubt about the winner 
if Ring had been allowed to have all he wanted. 

This morning when mother put the tray of cod- 
liver oil bottles on the table, Ring cocked his head 


30 


RING 


on one side and pricked up his big, brown ears so 
coaxingly that mother couldn’t resist him. 

“You want your codliver oil now?” she laughed. 
“Come to the kitchen and we’ll get your spoon.” 

Ring followed her closely. Mother poured the 
codliver oil and then opened his mouth by pulling 
down his lower jaw. She tipped back his head and 
emptied the spoonful into his throat. Then she 
let him lick the spoon. A drop spilled on the lin¬ 
oleum and he quickly lapped it up with his big red 
tongue. Then he looked up hopefully at Mother. 
“That is all for today, Ring,” she said. 

Maybe it was the codliver oil which made him 
so full of life or maybe it was the delight of snow. 
At any rate both Ring and the children were eager 
to finish breakfast so that they could go to the 
Forest Preserve for the first slide of the season. 

Warm coats were snugged up around young 
throats, mittens were tucked under coat sleeves and 
woolly caps were drawn close over pink ears as 
Nancy, Dick, and Bobby prepared for the morning 
fun in the snow. 

Ring stood at the door ready, at the first crack, 
to push his way through and announce to the world 
with joyous barking that the fun was starting. 

“Be careful to keep Ring out of the way when 
vnn <11 A*” worrit Mn thr Ty “or you will all tumble.” 

flipped on her coaster and 



SNOW FUN 


3i 


started down the gentle hill toward the Canoe Club, 
Ring dashed after her, running across her path and 
back again barking with high glee. He almost upset 
her before she came to the end of the slide. 

“Ring,” said Nancy sternly, “come here. You 
almost made me spill ” She slipped her hand under 
his great muzzle and lifted his head so that she 
could look straight into his eyes. 

“Mother says dogs can think. Think, or you will 
have to go home.” 

At the words, “go home,” Ring truly seemed to 
understand for the gay curve sagged out of his tail 
and his eyes looked unhappy. 

Nancy continued, “You are sorry? All right, 
pull this sled up for me.” She put the rope in his 
mouth and commanded, “Pull it.” 

Ring looked at her and then at the sled. He 
backed off at the side and began tugging it up the 
long hill. 

Dick and Bobby shouted with merriment but 
Nancy kept close beside Ring encouraging him to 
keep at it. Finally they reached the top and then 
she patted and praised him and made a great fuss 
over him. Daddy said that was the way to train 
any dog, for a dog likes to please those he loves. 

“You can slide now, Dick,” directed Nancy with 
the authority of the eldest born,” and I’ll take Ring 
down at the side of the path so he will learn where 


32 


RING 


to run. Then he can bring the sled back again.” 

Persistently they kept Ring working and their 
merry shouts soon attracted the rest of the neighbor¬ 
hood children. 

While Ring was running down the side of the 
hill after the children, one of the neighborhood boys 
packed a snow ball and threw it as hard as he could 
at Ring. It hit him in the side, and he yipped with 
pain and surprise. 

He stopped short and looked around. No one 
had ever thrown at him before and he couldn’t 
believe that any one would hurt him. With great 
dignity he walked up the hill looking at the boy. 
Ring’s injured dignity seemed comical to the boy 
and he bent double with laughter. 

“How dare you hurt my dog?” Dick flared. 

The boy continued to laugh and Dick started for 
him threateningly. “Oh, I didn’t mean to hurt him. 
Honest. I just did it for fun.” 

In the midst of the explanations, the boy forgot 
the most important thing. He neglected to make 
his apologies to Ring. Maybe he didn’t know that 
a dog never forgets an unforgiven injury, or he 
would have tried to make friends with him at once. 

Ever after that when the boy came to the friendly 
house, Ring would greet him with an angry bark 
and a deep throated growl. He said as plainly as 
he could that he didn’t like and couldn’t trust him. 



Chapter V 


SUMMER STYLES FOR RING 

W HEN spring days came Ring’s mistress sent 
the money to have him vaccinated against 
rabies. She had hoped to have him back 
with her by this time, but still they were too un¬ 
certain about their plans to take him. She asked 
particularly about his heavy fur coat and suggested 
that it would probably have to be cut for the coming 
hot weather. 

The children were very much interested in the 
thought of taking Ring to a barber. They hadn’t 
decided where to take him when they had a vol¬ 
unteer for the job. 

Ring had made friends around the neighborhood 
and was particularly fond of Billie, a fine lad of 
High School age who lived next door. He would 
always bound to meet him, sniff and arch his neck 
in happiness, wag his tail and nestle his great head 
against Billie in greeting. 

They were such very good friends that one breath¬ 
less, hot afternoon about the first of June when 
Billie came into the yard and found Ring languid 
and panting with heat, he said to Mother, “That 


33 


34 


RING 


poor fellow is just sweltering in his heavy coat of 
hair. Would you let me cut it for him?” 

“Have you ever trimmed a dog before?” asked 
Mother, who wanted a good job done. 

“Yes, I once trimmed our small dog. I would 
leave his big white ring and a little tawny hair back 
of it to make the lion cut,” he explained. “I would 
shear the rest of his body leaving the white tip on 
his tail.” 

Ring looked up blandly, his tongue hanging out 
and his breath coming rapidly. “Poor fellow, you 
do look hot,” Mother sympathized. “All right 
Billie, go ahead. How much do you charge?” 

“Nothing,” Billie said promptly, “I would just 
like to do it for his comfort.” He whistled gaily 
and Ring followed him. 

Down to Billie’s basement they went, into the 
grateful coolness. Billie sharpened his shears, 
spread newspapers over the floor, put on a big cover¬ 
all suit, sat on a stool and called Ring to him. 

“Now old boy,” he said, “we are going to make 
you comfortable.” 

Snip, snip went the shears and great chunks of 
tawny hair fell to the paper. Ring rolled his eyes 
at Billie and drew away. 

“Hold still fellow,” Billie petted him, “it is all 
right. We will have this done in a jiffy” 

Ring didn’t like the feel of the shears on his 


SUMMER STYLES FOR RING 


35 


back and he stepped restlessly from one foot to the 
other. He turned his big head and looked at Billie 
questioningly. 

“You will be glad when this is all over,” Billie 
reassured him. Maybe Billie needed encouragement 
himself for the more hair he cut the more remained 
to be cut, it seemed. Great piles of it lay on the 
newspapers. Ring stepped forward into the midst of 
it and a whirl of it flew in the air, down Billie’s neck 
and even into his mouth. 

Hastily Billie ducked and rolled up the pile of 
hair in the papers. Then at a safe distance he looked 
at Ring. He was aghast to see the effect of the hair¬ 
cutting. “This is terrible,” he exclaimed ruefully, 
“you look moth eaten.” 

And true enough the beautiful tawny coat with 
its feathered edges, now was reduced to a shorn, 
ragged, patchy hide. Billie was in despair. 

He slipped his hand through Ring’s collar and 
soberly walked over to the friendly house. “Mrs. 
Dale,” he said, “I just have to stop for supper and 
a little rest. Ring needs it too, but after we eat I’ll 
come for him again and then I can smooth him up 
and make him look better.” 

Mother caught her breath as she saw Ring. She 
couldn’t help it, he was such a sorry sight. But as 
she looked from Ring to Billie she felt he needed 
sympathy almost more than the dog. 


36 


RING 


After supper Billie was back for Ring, who was 
very reluctant to return, but Mother coaxed him too, 
and finally he went. 

Friends called at the friendly house and the eve¬ 
ning passed quickly for Mother and Daddy. When 
they were ready to close the house for the night they 
realized that Ring wasn’t back. 

“Do you suppose that poor boy is still clipping 
Ring?” Mother asked in deep concern. “I had no 
idea what an ordeal it would be for both of them.” 

“Let’s go over and see,” suggested Daddy. 

As they came around the side of the house the 
bright light from the basement attracted them. 
There sat Billie patiently brushing Ring. Below 
him lay piles of hair. In spite of the evening’s work 
Ring was still a patched and pathetic sight. But so 
was Billie for that matter. It was hard to tell which 
looked the more tired and sad, the boy or the dog. 

Billie stood up and stretched and Ring jumped 
for the stairs. Daddy whistled. The back door 
opened and they both came out. 

“Hello,” called Daddy, “are you all through?” 

“I guess so,” conceded Billie. “Of course I should 
have clippers to finish him evenly.” 

“Maybe we could have that done, just for a finish,” 
suggested Daddy and Billie agreed gratefully. 

“I owe you something for this job,” Daddy said as 
he slipped his hand into his pocket for money. 





SUMMER STYLES FOR RING 


37 


“No, not me,” Billie laughed shortly, “it was my 
offer, and I don’t want any money.” 

The very next day Mother took Ring to the veteri¬ 
nary for the clipper cut and the vaccine his mistress 
had suggested. Into the Cat and Dog Hospital he 
walked, close by her side. When they passed 
through the room in which the’dogs were caged, 
Ring was distinctly annoyed and worried by their 
incessant barking. 

In the next room was the electric clipper, and 
under it a table with many straps and chains. 

“I’ll have to hoist him onto that table,” said the 
assistant looking dubiously at Ring’s massive body. 

“He will jump up there for me,” said Mother. 
“I have seen him clear a privet hedge at our home 
with no effort.” 

She patted the table and called him. Up jumped 
Ring, landing cautiously in the middle of the table. 

“Lie down, Ring,” Mother commanded and he 
did so, looking at her trustingly with his great brown 
eyes all the while. 

Quickly the veterinary pricked a shot of vaccine 
into his leg and Ring didn’t even wince. Then he 
tied Ring’s great muzzle tightly. 

“That is so tight,” remonstrated Mother. 

“We can’t take chances of being bitten,” replied 
the man. “I have to chain his head down too, for 
dogs get mighty nervous when the clippers start.” 


38 


RING 


Mother stood close by Ring with her hand on his 
fore paw as the clippers buzzed up and down over 
his shorn hide. His great body quivered slightly 
but she spoke soothingly to him and he kept his big 
trusting eyes fixed on her. Mother thought of 
Billie. She marveled now at what he had accom¬ 
plished with shears and the spoken word. 

“I never saw a dog hold so still,” said the attendant 
as he worked over the powerful flank of the dog. 
“He is one in a million. Usually they fuss around 
considerably and it takes me twice as long.” 

Of course Mother readily agreed with him that 
Ring was one in a million. 

But it was an experience which Ring never for¬ 
got. Curiously enough, he seemed to blame it on 
Billie. Never again did he rush down the street to 
meet him, or go blithely to him when he whistled. 
His eyes held the lack luster of indifference as he 
looked at Billie. The warmth had gone out of their 
friendship. 


Chapter VI 


THE MERRY-GO-ROUND 

R ING is ready for my party with his summer 
hair cut,” rejoiced Bobby, the day that the 
invitations were sent to his friends. “If his 
mistress should write for him, tell her to wait till 
after my birthday.” 

Everyone about the house was in the gay mood 
of a party and no less important than the cake or 
white sailor suit for Bobby on his fifth birthday, 
was the bath to make Ring beautiful. 

“Ring is always so much friendlier to strangers,” 
observed Nancy,” when he is fresh and clean. He 
seems to be proud of himself then and willing to be 
petted by everyone.” 

True to the instincts of his race, Ring was usually 
indifferent to strangers, and even a little severe with 
them in his house if they tried to pet him on too 
short acquaintance. The children had noticed that 
outdoors he never growled even slightly, at people 
who were friendly to him, while in the house he 
felt his responsibility of being watch dog. Only 
pride in his clean coat would make him perfectly 
friendly to strangers. 


39 


4° 


RING 


“All the children will like him,” affirmed Bobby, 
but he forgot that Ring would look like a big lion 
to the children who were not accustomed to him. 

On the day of the party Ring stood at the door 
just behind his young master, but the girls were 
too timid to pass him unless reassured, so Dick took 
him into the backyard. It wasn’t long until all the 
children had followed out there too and were tossing 
bright colored balloons from one to the other with 
gay abandon while Ring ran and barked happily. 

About that time Mother brought the auto and 
piled all the children into it to take them to the Big 
Circle in the Forest Preserve where a Merry-Go- 
Round had recently hoisted its gay canvas. 

Ring wanted to climb in with the happy children 
but Mother said, “You couldn’t ride on the Merry- 
Go-Round, Ring, so you had better stay at home.” 
She honked her horn and he stepped well out of 
the way as she backed out of the drive. But he 
looked so sad and dejected as she drove away that 
all the children felt sorry for him and Bobby could 
scarcely bear it. 

When Mother said, as they drove along, “I think I 
can almost hear the music from the Merry-Go- 
Round,” they listened so intently that they forgot 
all about Ring. And it wasn’t long until they could 
hear the jaunty tune of the Merry-Go-Round which, 
like the Pied Piper, calls children. Soon they could 



THE MERRY-GO-ROUND 


4 1 


see through the trees, the racing horses, rising and 
falling on their shining poles as the Merry-Go- 
Round whirled about. 

The children were so excited that they found it 
hard to wait for Mother to park the car and take 
them to the green booth for tickets. To get inside 
the wire mesh fence which surrounded the Merry- 
Go-Round each child must have a ticket. 

Obligingly the Merry-Go-Round mail waited 
until Bobby and all of his friends had the reins 
tightly clutched in both hands and their feet firmly 
placed in the stirrups. Mother stood between the 
smallest and most timid girls. Slowly the Merry- 
Go-Round started turning and the music blared. 
The children were ecstatic. 

Faster and faster it whirled around. More as¬ 
sured grew the children on the rising and falling 
steeds as time passed. 

“There comes Ring,” suddenly cried Bobby. And 
he was right. 

Past the ticket boy Ring dashed between the 
fast turning Merry-Go-Round and the wire mesh 
fence. With tongue hanging and head stretched 
forward he doubled up his great muscles and ran 
around the track. 

The children laughed with delight. “He wants a 
ride. He wants a ride,” they cried. 

When Ring saw Bobby enjoying himself so much, 


4 2 


RING 


he slowed up a little to see if he could jump on. 

In alarm Mother shouted, “Ring, stay down.” 

The boy at the ticket booth tried to catch him, but 
the tip of Ring s tail slipped through his fingers and 
Ring dashed on, intent upon catching a ride. Again 
he measured his distance planning to make the 
jump, but just that much slacking of his pace car¬ 
ried the Merry-Go-Round away from him so fast 
that again he chased the illusive spot upon which 
he had decided. 

The Merry-Go-Round man, the ticket boy, Bobby, 
Mother and all the children laughed with glee. 

Ring heard them and barked, ‘Til catch you yet.” 
About that time the Merry-Go-Round began to slow 
down. The ride was almost over. This was Ring’s 
chance to get on. 

With a quick spring he landed with all four feet 
on the slowly turning floor and quickly made his 
way to Bobby. Up he climbed on a sleigh seat just 
behind his master, and sat there panting and smiling 
with supreme satisfaction. All of the children 
shouted with delight. 

One of the nicest parts of Bobby’s birthday was 
that Ring, too, had a Merry-Go-Round ride. 






Chapter VII 


HE FORGETS HIS MANNERS 

O NE month followed the next, yet Ring’s 
mistress still hoped she could have him with 
her again. Each time she wrote that next 
month surely she would be able to come for him. 
Each month made it harder for the family in the 
friendly house to think of parting with him. 

Nancy observed, “Sometimes I catch him looking 
very sad and far away, and I think he must be long¬ 
ing for his own mistress. We try so hard to make 
him happy, surely he likes to stay with us.” Each 
week Ring seemed to consider them more as his 
own family. 

One bright morning in July, he noticed an un¬ 
usual stir in the household. Suitcases appeared from 
the attic and finally were carried to the garden door, 
fat and bulging. The auto stood waiting there and 
all manner of things were being piled on the floor 
in the back. 

Ring walked about restlessly. He seemed to know 
that the family was going some place, and he was 
very much concerned. He had always been left 
at home to guard the house when they went for a 


43 


44 


RING 



ride. Daddy decreed from the first that Ring must 
not be encouraged to ride in an auto, for fear some¬ 
one might steal him that way. 

But this time was different. Ring never saw them 
take so many cases and packages with them. He 
had an uncanny feeling that now they would not 
come back soon, and he did not want to be left 
at home. To guard against this he took his position 
very close to the auto and as the door was opened 
he would step from one foot to the other very 
eagerly. He was all ready to step in at the slightest 
word of command. 

His eyes were so anxious and yearning that Bobby 
assured him he was going too. 

At last everything was packed and Ring was told 
to get into the back seat. A paper was spread there 
for him to sit on and he accepted it as if special places 
in automobiles were nothing unusual to him. 

There he sat panting happily as Dick and Nancy 
took their places beside him. Bobby had to squeeze 
into the front seat between Mother and Daddy to 
give Ring the space he needed in the back, but Bobby 
didn’t mind. He liked it. By turning his head way 
around he could see all that Ring was doing and 
still not crowd Daddy’s driving arm. 

The motor was turned on and steadily they backed 
out of the curving drive. Soon they were underway 
and everyone was gay. 

















HE FORGETS HIS MANNERS 


45 


“Ring’s smiling,” Nancy announced. And he truly 
looked that way with the corners of his big mouth 
pulled back. 

Bob! y screwed his neck around and laughed ex¬ 
citedly. “He is so happy he is bubbling over. Look. 
Mother, he drips.” Bobby was rignt and other papers 
were brought to the rescue. 

Everyone sang and was very happy as they drove 
along between green fields, and up and down rolling 
stretches of white road. 

“Thic is where we turn,” Dick said excitedly. 
“Don’t you remember that old house? Can’t you 
almost smell the lake beyond it?” 

Ring caught the spirit of excitement which filled 
the children and gave two short yips. They were 
at the top of the hill. Just below them through the 
trees gleamed the lake, and nestled among the trees 
the white cottage with its big screened porch awaited 
them. 

Then all was confusion and delight. Friends 
along the lake side who were in their cottages came 
to greet them. They hugged the children and were 
properly introduced to Ring, who regarded them 
with stately dignity. 

Everyone carried something into the cottage and 
in no time at all they were all unloaded and the 
children with their friends were scrambling down 
the steps to the boats. 


4 6 


RING 


Ring had stayed as close as he could to Mother 
during the excitement, but gradually the spirit of 
happy adventure made him forget his strangeness. 
He had looked the house all over, and found his 
favorite spot on the porch. Then he began to in¬ 
vestigate the grounds. Mother warned him “Stay 
close by, old boy” and he was very careful to keep 
his own cottage in sight. 

But the next day was different. He needed to 
explore the neighbor’s property. Beyond a little 
rolling knoll lived Aunt Ann and her twins. A 
friendly path, much worn with the passing of many 
feet, led from her cottage to the place where Ring 
stayed. So he put his feet on that path and it car¬ 
ried him right along to her yard. 

He was never a dog to go nosing about other 
people’s properties, but this time he was exploring. 
His nose led him to a big wire incinerator which 
offered a crumpled side for easy investigating. 

Surely he smelled the tang of fresh meat among 
these papers. It smelled unusually good in this 
bracing lake air. So he forgot himself and began 
pawing things from the basket, spreading them 
about the yard. 

Now it happened when he had spread an un¬ 
sightly number of papers about him, Aunt Ann 
looked from her window. She was aghast to see 
this big dog of her neighbor’s playing havoc with 











4 8 


RING 


her full incinerator. With gusto she shouted to him, 
“Get out of here, and go home.” 

Instantly Ring stood still and turned his great 
head toward the house. Never before had anyone 
spoken to him in such a stern voice. For a long 
moment he looked right at her. Then with of¬ 
fended dignity he turned and, carrying his tail high, 
slowly left the yard. 

That very noon Aunt Ann followed the path to 
Mother’s door and on a platter she carried a big soup 
bone. “I have come to make friends with Ring,” 
she said. “This morning I spoke to him sharply, 
calling to him as I would to a common tramp dog. 
He turned with such dignity and left my yard, that 
I wanted to rush after him and tell him I was sorry.” 

So Ring and Aunt Ann became fast friends and 
never again did he go near her incinerator, although 
he came to see her many times. 

But the zest from out-of-doors living led him to 
forget his manners once more. This time it was 
in his very own house. Week-end guests came to 
the white cottage, and with the thoughtfulness of 
friends, brought with them a big box of delicious 
chocolate candy. 

The children did not eat candy between meals, 
so it was with a great deal of anticipation that the 
candy was saved for a dessert following Sunday 
dinner. The dining table was stretched along the 


HE FORGETS HIS MANNERS 


^9 


shady side of the great screened porch and merry 
conversation made the meal seem unusually long to 
the eager Bobby. He slid down from his chair and 
edged close to Mother. 

“Please Mother,” he begged, “may I whisper this 
once? It is about a nice surprise for everyone.” 

Mother leaned over and this was what he said, 
“May I get the candy opened and just take one piece 
and have the box already to surprise them?” 

Mother nodded and Bobby slipped away. Soon 
he reappeared around the corner of the porch look¬ 
ing happy and conscious. 

“You don’t know what I know,” he sang out as 
he climbed into his chair. Of course, each one pre¬ 
tended he couldn’t guess. 

No one was paying any attention to Ring who 
had been lying in the far corner, his long nose 
stretched on the floor between his two fore paws. 
They didn’t even notice now that he was gone. 

At last the table was cleared and dessert was being 
served. Mother nodded to Bobby and very impor¬ 
tantly he left the table. 

Around the corner of the porch he marched. 
And then there was a long drawn wail, “Mother, 
come. Quick! Ring has eaten all the candy.” 

Everyone left the table and sure enough there 
stood Ring with frilly paper candy cups strewed all 
about him. 


50 


RING 


“I just took the lid off the box and put it on the 
couch,” Bobby’s voice ended in tears. 

Ring looked at Bobby, at the candy box and at 
Mother. All eyes were focused on him, but he saw 
only Mother. Wagging his tail ever so little and 
slinking along the floor he came to her. Back he 
sat on his haunches offering her both paws in 
apology. His great eyes looked so unhappy and 
ashamed. They seemed to say, “I like candy so 
much. It was right under my nose. I am sorry.” 

“Oh, look at that great dog,” everyone said 
around the circle. That is, everyone except Bobby. 
He was crying too hard and rubbing his eyes. 

“Bobby, look at Ring,” Mother directed. 

“I won’t,” wailed Bobby, “He is a bad dog.” 

Then he did just what he said he wouldn’t do. 
He peeped at Ring out of one corner of his eye. He 
saw Ring’s ears laid back and the pleading look in 
his eyes as he begged before Mother. Slowly Bobby 
came to Mother’s side. 

The great dog turned and offered his paws to him, 
letting them rest on his shoulder. As he sat there 
he was just as high as Bobby. 

“I’m never, never going to put candy where you 
can get it again,” said Bobby severely, “do you hear 
that?” and slowly he rubbed Ring’s silky ears in 
forgiveness. Ring put his feet down and shook his 
great head until his license tag clicked in assent. 




Chapter VIII 


IN THE MOVIES 

I N ALL the six cottages which shared the bond 
of friendship around Twinkle Bay, Ring was 
accepted as a member of the white cottage 
family. When Mother went visiting among her 
friends it was very easy to find her. Ring would 
be patiently lying in front of that door. If any one 
came, he would arise and step aside politely, wag¬ 
ging his tail in greeting. 

This particular week Mother went back and forth 
a great deal and so did Ring. Had he been listen¬ 
ing he could have heard gay talk of the movie which 
they were to take that next Sunday when all of the 
men would be there from the city and everyone was 
to be used in the picture. 

Some one owned a sheik costume, direct from 
Arabia, and the story for the picture was built around 
it. Everyone helped plan it, and merry were the 
days spent in figuring scenes and settings. 

The first scene of the movie was to be staged in 
a neighboring gravel pit, which offered a broad, 
sandy floor for the stage. Shut off from the world, 
it seemed a suitable country for an Arab tribe. 

51 







52 


RING 


The oldest man from the lakeside colony was 
selected for the patriarch of the tribe. The women 
were to group themselves about an open fire. The 
boys and girls were to be dressed as slaves. 

There was to be a make-believe camel, whose huge 
burlapped body would fit over the shoulders of two 
of the men. Hind Legs and Front Legs they were 
called, and of course, there would be a camel driver. 

It was planned so that everyone of the forty odd 
players had something to do, when someone thought 
of Ring. ‘‘He must be in it,” they agreed. 

“Let him be a lion. He looks like one anyway 
with his summer hair cut,” some one said. 

It was agreed that the scene should open with 
Nancy as a slave girl, left on the top of the pit. At¬ 
tacked by Lion Ring she was to dash down the 
gravel paths to the tribe below. Hotly pursued by 
the great lion, she was to be protected by the slave 
boys, who would pick up pebbles to throw at Lion 
Ring. Mother was to call Ring from the other side 
of the gravel pit so that he would dash through to 
her. When he disappeared the whole tribe would 
fall on their knees bowing in thanks to Allah. 

The great day came finally, as days always do. 
Ring rehearsed once, but decided to go home when 
asked to do it again. Rehearsals weren’t in order 
anyway as only one day in the week could all of 
the crowd be assembled. 


IN THE MOVIES 


53 


To start the festivities in gay spirits all of the play¬ 
ers were invited to a movie breakfast at the home of 
Aunt Ann. Ring wondered why Mother left the 
house without offering him anything to eat. His 
nose told him that she had a choice morsel of fresh 
meat wrapped in the package which she took with 
her, so he followed her expectantly. 

But she walked right into the middle of that gay 
crowd, colorfully dressed in the picturesque Arabian 
costume, and all he could do was to wait patiently 
at the foot of the porch steps. Friends came and 
petted him. Everyone said, “There is Ring, do you 
suppose he will do his act,” or “There is the lion,” 
until Ring himself caught the spirit of excitement. 

When the breakfast was over he was invited to 
ride in the auto beside Bobby and Mother. Mother 
still had that savory package with her. He ran 
his long tongue out between his lips, licked them, 
smacked them and in every way suggested he would 
like the meaty bone now, but Mother only laughed, 
“Wait, old boy. Maybe that will make you hurry 
through the tribe to me.” 

Ring was very much excited when he saw all the 
cars gathered near the edge of the deep gravel pit, 
and mother suggested that two friends hold him 
until time for his act, then Nancy could call him. 

The director shouted through the megaphone, 
“All ready,” and the camera man started taking the 


54 


RING 


picture. Nancy dashed down the long gravel path 
which led slantingly toward the first sandy stage. 
Back she looked over her shoulder pretending fear, 
but really calling, “Come Ring, catch me,” and he 
bounded forward in gay spirits. So fast he ran that 
it looked for a minute as if he might catch her. 

Nancy ran faster than she ever thought she could. 
Why weren’t her legs longer! The waiting tribe 
below called to her encouragingly, and Ring saw 
them for the first time. Suddenly he decided to 
take a short cut and reach his friends quicker, so 
straight down the steep gravel hill he dashed. 

Everyone looked so pleased to see Ring doing his 
act that for a moment they forgot to do their part 
until they heard the director shout, “Be afraid of 
him. Register fear.” Then they scattered and the 
slave boys began throwing small pebbles. 

For a moment Ring slowed his pace and it looked 
as if he were going to frisk about among his friends. 
For a lion to turn friendly and go about looking for 
pettings would ruin the picture. Desperately 
Mother called in her loudest voice. “Come here 
Ring. Get your breakfast.” He looked at her. He 
looked at his friends, and then dashed on through. 

The suspense was over. Everyone was really truly 
thankful, and bowed low to the east, for the most 
temperamental actor of all had done his part. 

But like many another great actor it made him 





IN THE MOVIES 


55 


very temperamental. When he reached Mother he 
wasn’t interested in the juicy bone she offered him. 
Not one bit. In fact he thought he would go back 
into the tribe, and if she hadn’t slipped her hand 
under his collar there he would have gone. 

Coaxingly she talked to him. She praised him and 
petted him, leading him toward the cars where she 
could lock him up, to keep the picture from being 
ruined with too many friendly lions. As they 
walked away from the excitement, out of sight of 
the crowd, she released her hold on his collar. 
“How about a little breakfast ?” she offered, but Ring 
was still too agitated to be interested. 

“Get in the car and calm yourself,” she com¬ 
manded and Ring dashed for the nearest car. In 
he jumped, just like Golden Locks, to try it. But 
it must have been too hard, for out he got and away 
he went to another car. That must have been too 
soft, for it wasn’t until he had tried the third car 
that he settled down as much as to say, “This is 
neither too hard nor too soft but just right.” And 
there he preferred to stay. It took a great deal of 
coaxing on Mother’s part to persuade him to come 
into his very own car. Mother knew he was shed¬ 
ding the hair from his great lion ruff, and was not 
an acceptable guest in other cars. 

All that morning Ring lived on his glory and 
cared not for breakfast. 


Chapter IX 


TO THE RESCUE 


T HE month of July was almost past and never 
once had the children been able to coax Ring 
into the water. “He ought to learn to swim,” 
they declared, for that was a very vital part of their 
education and now all but Bobby could swim. 

“All dogs know how to swim if they have to,” 
declared Daddy, but the children found that hard to 
believe as they had never seen Ring in the water. 

Ring was very careful of himself when he walked 
out on the pier to the big dock, and kept to the mid¬ 
dle so that by no chance would he step off into the 
water. He liked to go onto the dock for the benches 
there usually held some of the friends along the 
lakeside, who had gathered to watch the swimmers, 
the sail boat races, or the gorgeous summer sunsets. 
He knew where to find a petting. 

Gradually as the month passed, he learned to 
jump into the broad, flat bottomed boats which were 
tied to the pier and which the children used for 
fishing on the lake. 

Sometimes they would play tricks on him hoping 
to make him swim. They would go to the pier 



TO THE RESCUE 


57 


and call him to come for a boat ride. Just as he 
would get ready to jump into the broad, flat boat 
they would row away as fast as they could but never 
once would he miss his leap. When he saw them 
pulling away from him he would just knot up his 
great muscles and clear the extra distance landing 
lightly in the middle of the boat. 

It was his delight to go for a motor boat ride. He 
sat very still in the middle of the boat, panting and 
smiling. He liked it so much that he always was 
ready to go whenever it was taken out. 

One day Dick was fishing a short distance from 
the pier in the large flat bottomed boat, called the 
Scow. Bobby wanted very much to join him for 
he dearly loved to fish. Most of his fishing had to 
be done from the pier as he didn’t know how to 
swim. Of course he rarely caught anything. This 
day Dick was fishing alone and Bobby came 
begging Mother, “Let me fish with Dick. I will 
let him be my captain. I will sit very still. I will 
do just what he says.” Such eager promises were 
hard to refuse. Mother knew that the wide scow 
was never known to tip, and Dick was willing to 
have him come. Bobby was in an ecstasy of 
yearning as Mother gave her permission. 

“I don’t want to lift the anchor and come back 
for him though. Would you row him out, Mother ?” 
asked Dick. 




RING 


Mother said she would, and handed the radiant 
Bobby into one of the several boats tied at the pier. 
Ring was right behind her offering to come along. 

“I don’t need you Ring,” said Mother. “I am 
coming right back with my water taxi so you can 
wait right here.” 

Ring could hardly stand it. So he jumped into 
the next boat tied to the pier and walked out in it 
as far as he could toward the retreating boat. 

Around the dock rowed Mother and headed out 
toward Dick. 

With a mighty leap Ring tried to jump from the 
boat in which he was standing, to the dock so that 
he might be that much nearer the retreating mem¬ 
bers of his family. The space between the boat and 
the dock was about eight feet. As he sprang he 
pushed the boat with his feet, just enough to make 
him miss his distance. His front feet touched the 
dock but the back ones missed and for the first time 
since they had come to the lake, Ring really was in 
the water. 

Instinctively he began to swim, for the water was 
over his head. Back he swam to the boat, grabbing 
it with his forepaws, but it tipped so he couldn’t get 
in. Turning he swam to the dock, but he couldn’t 
quite scramble up, as he couldn’t brace himself with 
his back feet. Back and forth he swam trying first 
one and then the other. 


TO THE RESCUE 


59 


“Ring is swimming! Ring is swimming!” 
squealed Bobby and Dick with delight. 

“Take a good bath” called Mother, “then I will 
help you out Ring .” 

Bobby was transferred with rod and bait to Dick’s 
care and Mother rowed back. She tied the boat 
and went to Ring who was resting with his fore¬ 
paws on the edge of the dock. 

As she pulled, he pulled too, and with a mighty 
effort drew himself out of the water. The first thing 
he did was to shake himself and the water show¬ 
ered in every direction. He was so glad to get out 
that he forgot all about everything else until Mother 
dashed down the pier away from him. 

Then he ran after her barking his apology. 

The last week end of their stay at the cottage 
arrived. Mother and Nancy drove into town to 
meet Daddy’s train from the city. Bobby and Dick 
and Ring were staying on the dock with the friends 
from the cottages who came to watch the sunset. 
Dick, who had been learning to paddle, asked if he 
might take the canoe. He was told he could if he 
would stay close to the high banked shore. 

As he paddled passed the dock Bobby begged to 
go. The grown-ups said they were afraid he 
wouldn’t sit still, but he assured them he would and 
that Mother had let him go fishing with Dick just 
a few days ago. 


6o 


RING 


Dick, proud of his ability to paddle was eager for 
a passenger, and drew alongside and said, “If he 
minds me, Mother lets him go with me.” 

“You can be my captain and I’ll sit very still,” 
promised Bobby and he was allowed to climb in. 

Quietly they pulled away. Ring was on his feet 
in an instant, looking longingly after them. Then 
he began to make a queer noise which no one had 
ever heard before. He began to cry and whine. 

“Listen to that dog,” the friends said. “He wants 
to go with them.” 

“Listen to Ring,” Bobby held on tightly to the 
sides of the canoe and looked back carefully. 

“That is queer,” said Dick as he paddled on, “I 
have never heard him do that before.” 

When Ring saw that they were going farther 
away with every stroke of the paddle, he rushed 
from the pier to the land and galloped after them. 
Out onto the next pier he ran, but too late. They 
had passed. He cried piteously and fled back to 
the land. He didn’t wait to follow the path along 
the top of the cedar wooded bank but crashed 
through the underbrush. 

The boys could hear him and could see among the 
green cedar trees an occasional flash of his tawny 
body with its ruff of white. 

“Let’s pull into the next pier and see what he 
does,” suggested Dick. 


TO THE RESCUE 


61 


This time they waited for him and he came pant¬ 
ing to them without thinking of the narrow pier. 

Dick held the canoe level with the edge of the 
pier. “What’s the matter Ring,” he asked, “Do you 
want a ride?” Cautiously Ring put one foot into 
the canoe and smelled all over the bottom. Then 
he drew back and laid down on the pier hooking 
his two big forepaws over the edge of the canoe. He 
gave a short bark as much as to say. “I am not going 
for a ride and I don’t think you should. It does not 
smell safe to me.” 

At first the boys laughed. Then Dick became 
sober and said, “Let’s go back if he feels that way. 
I never saw him act like this.” 

So he loosened Ring’s paws and pushed away from 
the pier. Ring began to cry again and then, seeing 
that they were turning toward home, he rushed 
back to the shore and broke a path even closer to 
the water edge where he could see them better. 

Bobby thought it a great joke and in his merri¬ 
ment lifted his hands from the side of the boat. Just 
then he saw a big fish break water out in the lake. 
Without thinking he jumped up shouting and point¬ 
ing his hand, “See that fish!” 

“Sit down,” shrieked Dick, but the sudden move¬ 
ment of the canoe was too much and in his effort to 
steady it, he but steered it further into the lake as 
they capsized. 







62 


RING 


‘‘They are overboard,” shouted the friends on the 
dock who had been watching Dick’s careful progress 
along the shore between them and the sunset. The 
men jumped for the boats. 

“The boat twisted into deep water.” 

“It must be over Bobby’s head.” 

“That is the deepest part along the shore,” the 
women wailed. 

But even as they wailed they saw a big tan body 
spring into the water and a big brown and white 
head plow steadily forward. Two boyish heads 
came up. One shook itself and began to swim 
toward the other which disappeared from sight. 

Directly for that spot swam Ring. Again the 
smaller head appeared but neither Dick nor Ring 
were close enough. Down Bobby went again. 

The men in the boats were shouting. They were 
gaining, “Steady, Dick. Grab him! We are 
coming.” 

For the third time the fair head appeared at the 
surface but this time a little farther over, out of 
Dick’s reach. 

“Get him, Ring,” Dick gasped. 

With a mighty lunge of his powerful body Ring 
pushed to the spot, ducked and grabbed Bobby’s 
blouse just as he was sinking for the third time. 

“Good Boy,” the men shouted as they saw Ring 
swim around and head for the shore. But Ring 






TO THE RESCUE 63 

paid no attention. Steadily he pushed his burden 
ahead of him toward the steep bank. 

One boat had come alongside and picked up the 
exhausted Dick. The other headed for Ring. 

By this time he had reached a footing on the edge 
of the steep shore and dragged Bobby’s limp body 
to safety. There he stood holding the drooping 
shoulder against the bank. 

The boat grounded and one of the men jumped 
out, to lift Bobby into it. Gently Ring released his 
hold. As the man turned back to the boat with his 
load, Ring gave one spring and was in the boat ahead 
of him, lying flat on the bottom with his great eyes 
concernedly watching Bobby. 

Gently they turned Bobby on his face so that the 
water ran from his mouth. They lifted and pushed 
the little body, forcing the water from his lungs. 
The sorrowful brown eyes of Ring missed no move¬ 
ment. By the time they reached the pier Bobby be' 
gan to show signs of life. As they stretched him 
there and worked over him, the great dog laid just 
as close as he could without getting in their way. 

Gradually Bobby’s eyes opened. He looked 
blankly into the faces bending over him and whim¬ 
pered, “I want my Mama.” He turned his head and 
saw Ring. One arm flung across to him and the 
big St. Bernard edged closer. “You were right, 
Ring,” Bobby whispered. 


6 4 


RING 


The sound of an auto horn announced the arrival 
of Mother, Nancy and Daddy, from the station. 
Someone hurried to tell them what had happened. 
They ran to the pier. 

When the excitement had subsided and Bobby 
and Dick were wrapped in blankets ready to go up 
to the cottage, Daddy said, “J ust wait a minute every¬ 
body. I have an announcement to make. All of 
you who have just seen what Ring has done, know 
how much this means to us.” 

His hand was stroking the big brown ear of the 
dog who pressed close to him. “I have a letter in 
my pocket from Ring’s mistress. At last she has 
decided he can be ours for keeps.” 

“We couldn’t live without Ring,” piped up Bobby. 

Everyone rejoiced and said Bobby was right. 

Ring belonged to the family in the friendly house 
ever after that. 










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